Mediterranean Sea

The Mediterranean Sea is a highly variable and dynamic environment, with very high biologic diversity. However, human activities have a large impact on this environment and sometimes lead to permanent ecosystem shifts. A broad-based dynamic conservation approach is needed to preserve essential ecological processes and services, and to protect economic and cultural resources for future generations.

This report is based on discussions among maritime experts and draws on the conclusions of a workshop that was held in Istanbul in 2007.

An enclosed sea such as the Mediterranean is particularly susceptible to ship-associated impacts due to the high volume of shipping routes, long history of use, shallow sensitive habitats and sensitive deep-sea ecosystems. This report describes the potential effects of maritime traffic in the Mediterranean and explores legal mechanisms that could be implemented to facilitate management and mitigation of impacts.

An enclosed sea such as the Mediterranean is particularly susceptible to ship-associated impacts due to the high volume of shipping routes, long history of use, shallow sensitive habitats and sensitive deep-sea ecosystems. This report describes the potential effects of maritime traffic in the Mediterranean and recommends management and mitigation measures.

The main aim of this report is to assess progress towards a network of ecologically representative and effectively managed MPAs that meets international obligations for conservation of the Mediterranean Sea. Specifically, results of this survey were used to measure Mediterranean progress towards the CBD targets of establishing a coherent network of MPAs by 2012 and to protect at least 10% of the Mediterranean Sea by 2010.

La Gouvernance en Méditerranée au-delà des mers territoriales étant une problématique relativement complexe, le Centre UICN pour la Coopération en Méditerranée à travers le sous groupe Méditerranéen pour le droit et la gouvernance de la mer (MMLSG) a développé ce document qui présente le statut juridique de la Mer Méditerranée, les difficultés et les défis à relever.